Blueberry Tart

This recipe comes from the 1985 Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts cookbook.  This recipe can be made with either fresh or frozen blueberries. Ingredients: One 7 1/2 x 11 x 1-inch pâte brisée tart shell, baked and cooled 3/4 cup sour cherry jelly 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons grand marnier 2 pints blueberries, washed,…

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Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake

This is my grandmother Ruby’s old-fashioned chocolate cake recipe.  My mom and little sister love this recipe.  In the past, I’ve been assigned to make this 3-layer cake for their birthdays.  When mom was growing up, she shared a birthday with my grampa – and it sometimes fell on Thanksgiving, so grama would make this…

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Orange Cake

This is my step-mom Carolyn’s recipe for orange cake.  I like this one, because it starts with a cake mix, making it ultra simple.  This recipe has it’s own frosting recipe, but it’s also great with cream cheese icing. Cake Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix 2 eggs 3/4 cup oil 1 (11 oz) can…

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Farmer’s Daughter Pate Sucree

This pie dough is a sweet dough, which is great for tarts.  It has a lot of butter, so it’s harder to handle than all-purpose doughs. Ingredients: 1/2 lb. unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 2 egg yolks 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour pinch of salt Instructions: In a medium bowl,…

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Pie Dough

This is Matt’s grandmother Eleanor’s pie dough recipe. Ingredients: 3 cups flour 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup ice cold water Instructions: Cut shortening into flour and salt. Gradually add water until blended. *Makes 3 single crusts.

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Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding with Maple Sauce

This recipe came from a Land O’Lakes seasonal cooking magazine.  Cinnamon raisin bread adds flavor to this easy-to-make bread pudding.  Serve it warm with homemade maple sauce. Ingredients: Pudding: 1/4 cup butter 8 slices (or 4 cups) cinnamon raisin bread, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 cups milk 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1…

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Della Robbia Cheesecake

This is the cheesecake recipe that my mom has always made.  It’s my absolute favorite cheesecake ever. Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1/3 cup butter flavored Crisco, melted 3 (8oz.) packages cream cheese, softened 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 eggs 1 cup dairy sour cream Instructions: Preheat oven to…

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White Pie

I got this cream pie recipe from my uncle Randy.  It’s a special from his home-town. Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1/2 cup cake flour (or 1/2 cup + 2 teaspoons all purpose flour  + 2 teaspoons corn starch) 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 2 egg white stiffly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 prebaked…

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Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake

This Dr. Pepper Chocolate cake, is similar to a chocolate spice cake, using the Dr. Pepper as a replacement for the spices. Ingredients: Cake: 2 cups sifted flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 cup Dr Pepper 1/2 cup chocolate chips 2 large…

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